Ann Arbor Basketball Notes

It’s just about the midway point of the Michigan high school basketball season. That means it’s time to bring in the reinforcements.

Several girls basketball teams will be seeing a lift this week from new personnel, as transfer students become eligible for competition under MHSAA rules.

Huron will be adding from Arbor Prep transfer Amaka Chikwe, who averaged nearly 12 points per game for Arbor Prep last year as a freshman.

Arbor Prep, in turn, will gain the services of former Huron player Payton Sims, who averaged six points per game for the River Rats last year. Sophomore Dominique Jones will also become eligible for the Gators.

Rhalon Slay will also be suiting up for Ypsilanti after playing for Pioneer last year.

Wolverine-great coaching Lincoln freshman team

If 3-point shooting suddenly become the calling card of the Lincoln girls basketball program, it won't be tough to guess why. Coaching the freshman team this year and assisting with the JV and varsity programs is former Michigan player Kate Thompson.

A second team All-Big Ten selection last year, Thompson graduated Michigan as the Wolverines' second all-time leader in 3-pointers made (198) and holds the record for 3-pointers made in a season (110). But Thompson's playing days are over, and now she's passing on her knowledge of the game to the next generation. In between the JV and varsity contests Friday against Ypsilanti Community, Thompson said that she's absolutely loving coaching.

But alas, she won't be on the sidelines for long. In addition to coaching, Thompson has spent her first year out of school applying to medical school and was recently accepted to the University of Michigan. She begins in August.

Chelsea to play at Palace

Next Tuesday, Chelsea is heading to one of the state’s largest basketball venue.

The Bulldogs will take on Temperance Bedford in a 3 p.m. game at The Palace of Auburn Hills Jan. 28.

Tickets cost $25 and include tickets to both the Chelsea-Bedford game and the 7:30 p.m. game between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic. They can be purchased through the Chelsea athletic office.

Big week for Hadlock

Rudolf Steiner's Ben Hadlock joined a pair of lists last week: the Washtenaw County's top scorers list, at No. 2 with 17.7 points per game, and the list of area players to hit a buzzer-beater this year.

On Tuesday, Hadlock scored a season-high 31 points, including four 3-pointers, to help his team beat Dearborn Advanced Tech.

Lincoln made its poll debut as the No. 9 team in Class A, following a 60-53 win over Ypsilanti Friday night. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, dropped all the way from No. 3 last week to two places out of the top ten.